Book Assist

Connemara International Marathon 2005

Interest in the Connemarathon has exploded since its humble beginnings in 2002. It will be held over the weekend of 26th and 27th of March 2005. Go on! Put the Connemara International Marathon in your calendar now. Photo by Joe O'ShaughnessyBook your place today!

A Windy Day in Connemara

Photo by Joe Desbonnet.

Flowers of Connemara

Photo by Joe Desbonnet.

Kylemore Abbey Connemara

Photo by Joe Desbonnet.

Drives

Drives

The Sky Road, Clifden - An Exhilarating Drive

The Sky Road is an exhilarating 11km/7ml circular drive west of
Clifden. Leave Clifden passing the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel (on your
left). About 400 m beyond this hotel look back towards Clifden. The
12 Bens provide a wonderful backdrop to the town and along with the
two church spires, they give Clifden its distinctive skyline.

Further along the road is a gateway leading to leading to the
ruins of the old D'Arcy mansion, Clifden Castle. These ruins over
look the sea and can be reached by going on a ten-minute walk down
a farm track, near the Sky Road. Once a Gothic Mansion, the
D'Arcy's lived here until 1850 when the estate was sold to the Eyre
Family who lived here at intervals until the castle fell into ruin
in the early 20th century.

A little further along, the road separates to the left you can
take the low road by the sea, but it is recommended to continue
along the high road where the road climbs to a height of over
500ft. Along the high road you will pass the ruins of the old
coastguard station on your left). As the road rises there are
breathtaking views of the islands (Inishturk and Turbot), and the
surrounding coastline. At the summit of the Sky Road peninsula
there is a car park. Leaving the car park the road descends for a
further 21/2 km where it meets the low road. Nearby are lovely
beaches.

Continuing along for another 2kms there is a road off to the
left, which is about 2km long and ends at Eyrephort the edge of the
Atlantic.

Returning to the Sky Road again, you continue for a further 3km
along the edge of Streamstown Bay, where there is a green Connemara
Marble quarry. Eventually you will join up with the
Clifden/Westport N59 Road.

Coast Road - Heart Of the Gaeltacht

To drive along Galway's coast road is to feel life's
difficulties slipping away. On the left is the powerful Atlantic
while to the right is the rocky landscape of Connemara. On sunny
days the beaches along this road are filled with families, and
nothing is more refreshing than a swim in the ocean. Fresh water
and sea fishing are abundant, and there is a range of watersports
for those who want an active break. If you just want to take life
easy you can do that too. The pace of life here is relaxed and
people are hospitable. Much of the area is Irish speaking and many
old customs survive.

Towns and Villages Along the Coast Road.

An Bearna (Barna)

This is a pretty village 5 miles west of Galway, which has small
fields to the right, and to the left Galway Bay stretching out into
the Atlantic. There is an attractive well sheltered beach here
between Salthill and Barna at Silver Strand.

Na Forbacha (Furbo)

There is a very fine sandy beach and coves along the coast. When
Udaras na Gaeltachta, the semi-state body for promoting industry in
the Gaeltacht areas was decentralised from Dublin in 1969, it
established its head office here.

An Spideal (Spiddal)

There word Spideal comes from 'ospideal' meaning hospital. There
may have been a leper hospital in the area at one time. Built on
the edge of the Atlantic, the town has beautiful scenery. It was
once an exclusive bathing spot for the gentry and their ladies, who
came in from their Connemara estates during the Summer. It is now a
homing place for poets, painters and sculptors. Its location in the
heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht makes it a haven for huindreds of
Students every Summer, who go there to leran Irish. It has
beautiful beaches for water enthusiasts. Despite its close
proximity to the city it still retains some elements of traditional
life.

Indreabhan (Inverin)

The new Connemara airport is situated here and it is also the
base of Aer Arann who operate daily flights to the Aran
Islands.

Ros an Mhil (Rossaveal)

Rossaveal is a small fishing village where much of today's catch
is processed and exported by the large fish companies who are based
here. Here is also the departure point for Island Ferries which
serves the Aran Islands

An Ceathru Rua (Carraroe)

Thirty miles west of Galway city, is a vibrant Gaeltacht area.
Carraroe is a lively town, with beautiful beaches including the
coral strand. Preched on a peninsula on the Atlantic edge, it has
breathtaking scenery.

Casla (Costello)

The village of Costello is on the main Galway Carraroe road.
It's irish name 'Casla' means sea inlet. This village is the
National headquarters for Radio na Gaeltachta and TG4, the state
sponsored Irish speaking radio and TV service, established in 1972.
It was to Costello that J. Bruce Ismay, Chairman and Managing
Director of the White Star Line, which owned the Titanic, came
after the liner sank in 1912.

Leitir Moir (Lettermore)

The village of Lettermore is situated on an island of the same
name, one of a number of islands connecting to the mainland by a
series of bridges. The landscape is a rocky one punctuated by small
lakes. In the days of the Penal Laws, Lettermore was garrisoned and
a law was passed restricting the freedom of the monks and the
priests. There are remains of several churches and holy wells
locally.

The Great Figure Eight Full Day Tour

Take the N59 road to Moycullen village, and onto the town of
Oughterard. On route turn off at the sign for Aughnaure Castle and
visit a 16th Century tower house in a very picturesque setting.
After Oughterard the fertile land fed by the River Corrib and it's
many lakes gives way to the dramatic rugged landscape of
Connemara.

Return to the N59 and continue to Maam Cross where roadside
fairs are still held regularly. Pull into Peacockes hotel and avail
of the 20m high tower for a panoramic view of the surrounding
country. Go straight through the crossroads towards Clifden,
pausing to admire the stunning scenery around Derryclare Lough, and
perhaps dropping into Dan O'Hara's Homestead and visitors
centre.

Clifden is a pretty coastal town to stroll around and why not
stop and shop at the station house complex, a railway terminus
converted into an attractive shopping precinct. Not to be missed is
the 7ml/11km drive along the Sky road for some breathtaking
views.

Back onto the N59 and head for Letterfrack, a village founded by
the Quakers. In the vicinity is the Connemara National Park, which
is well worth a half or full day's visit for its beautiful walks
and excellent interpretation centre illustrating all the flora and
fauna to be seen.

Continuing on you pass Kylemore Abbey and Gardens, once the home
of wealthy Victorians now a private school run by nuns, but is open
to the public all year round. Next stop is the tiny village of
Leenane nestling at the foot of the majesty Maamturk Mountains, at
the tip of Killary Harbour - Irelands only fjord. The was the
setting for the film 'The Field' starring Richard Harris, as
attested by proudly displayed photos in a local pub. The cultural
centre provides interesting information and nearby is Nancy's Point
from where cruises depart for regular trips to Killary Harbour.

Turning right at the village onto the R336 one journeys into
Joyce Country, so called because of the importance of the Joyce
Family to the region (but not to be confused with Dublin's James
Joyce). You have also entered the area of An Ghealtacht, where
Irish is the first language, and so are most of the road signs.
Continue on through Maam and at Maam Cross (Peacockes Hotel) drive
straight on towards Screeb, passing Casla and heading towards the
coast.

Note how radically the scenery has changed, from mountainous
regions to lush fertile lands and wooded hills dotted with small
lakes, to barren stony fields where generations of peasants cleared
the land and built the dry stone walls that marked their meagre
holdings. This drive takes visitors on a truly impressive diversity
of landscapes.

The last leg of the journey takes us on the R336 along the coast
road through Inverin, Spiddal and Bearna - where the Gealtacht area
officially ends. To your right Galway Bay offers beautiful views
across to the Burren in Co. Clare on the far shore, as you head
back towards Galway City.

Lough Inagh Drive (164km.102mls)

Leave Clifden taking the road South to Ballyconneely. This is a
superb drive, with bogs and beaches on either side. Connemara Golf
Club is located at Ballyconneely. Next stop is Roundstone, a
picturesque sea village founded in the early 19th century. Continue
to Toombeola and onto the main Clifden/Galway Road (N59).

Turn right here for Recess, go left for the Inagh Valley. Here
the Maamturk mountains rise to the right, while Derryclare Lough
and Lough Inagh shelter under Beanna Beola Mountains. Continue on
to the main Letterfrack/Leenane Road and, turn left to the
attractive village of Letterfrack, with its National Park. Just
before here is Kylemore Abbey, now a school. It has a craft shop
and restaurants and some fine walks. At Letterfrack continue
straight on towards Clifden, until you come to a sign for Cleggan
and Claddaghduff. Take this road.

At Claddaghduff, if the tide is out you can walk across the
superb beach to Omey Island, where there are some fine
archaeological remains.

Take the Sky Road back to Clifden for breathtaking views of
seascape and landscape. Returning to Clifden by the southerly tip
of the peninsula, you will see the town at its best, with spires of
its two elegant churches rising skyward.

Corrib Country Tour (140km/88mls)

This tour follows the 140km shoreline around the great lough
Corrib. Leave Galway by the N59 for Moycullen village. A small
detour to the right before Oughterard leads to Aughanure Castle.
Oughterard is one of Lough Corrib's main angling centres and a busy
market town. (If you have time a detour to the right in the village
square will lead you to the wooded hill of Doon, which has superb
views of Lough Corrib. Return to the village after this
detour.)

Leave Oughterard behind, drives westwards towards Maam Cross,
the Picadily of Connemara. As you drive the landscape changes
dramatically. Greenery gives way to mountains, moorlands and lakes.
Turn right at Maam Cross, and as you drive north you will be
surrounded by wonderful mountain scenery. At Maam Bridge, take
another right, and drive along by Lough Corrib.

Continue through the lively village Cornamona and take in the
beautiful views until you reach the village of An Fhairce
(Clonbur), known for it's excellent music. It's just a short trip
to Cong from here. You cross the border to County Mayo to reach
this village, which was the setting for the film "The Quiet
Man".

From Cong return to Galway passing through Cross, and on past
Glencorrib. The ruins of Ross Errily Abbey are on the right by the
Galway/Mayo boundary. Headford is another angling centre and a busy
town. Here you can detour right to visit Ross Errily. Return to
Headford and then to Galway, with a possible detour to the right to
Annaghdown on Lough Corrib, with its ecclesiastical ruins.

Along The N59 - Glorious and Contrasting Scenery

Driving between Galway and Clifden (N59) will allow you to
witness glorious and contrasting scenery. As you leave Galway
driving towards Moycullen and Oughterard, rich wooded lands roll
down to the Corrib. There are wonderful views of the Lough on one
side and of majestic native Irish trees on the other.

Drive through Oughterard and as you take the turn for Clifden
there is a beautiful landscaped area beside the river - a haven of
calm. Then all changes, as just minutes away, the rugged landscape
of Connemara unfolds. This is a place where the Ice Age left it's
mark. Majestic mountains rise steeply from an earth of contrasting
rock and boglands, abundant with lakes and rivers.

Continuing through Maam and Recess, the scenery becomes ever
more impressive. Even on wet days this area is beautiful, as
waterfalls caused by the rain, run down the mountains. Artists from
all over the world have come to paint this landscape with its ever
changing light. It is a magical area.